To, too and two sound the same and differ by one letter. To has one o and does two jobs: it points towards something, and it introduces a verb. Too has two o's and means also or more than enough. Two spells the number 2.
The extra o is the signal. Too means as well ("I want to come too") or excessively ("too hot"). To without the extra o never means also or excessively.
This page gives the three jobs, eight examples and 15 questions. Every answer names the job of the word in the sentence.
What each word means
to
to (preposition and infinitive marker): towards a place or person, or before the base form of a verb. "I walk to work." "I want to sleep."
too
too (adverb): also, or more than is wanted. "Me too." "This bag is too heavy."
two
two (number): the number 2. It is spelled with tw, like twelve and twenty.
The rule
To points or introduces a verb
- Direction: go to school, walk to the door, give it to me. The word points towards a place or person.
- Infinitive: to go, to eat, to learn. The word before a base verb is to.
- No meaning of its own in these patterns: it is a link word.
- Never use to for also or for the number. Those meanings have their own spellings.
Too means also or excessively
- Also, usually at the end: "I am coming too." "She speaks French too."
- Excessively, before an adjective or adverb: too hot, too late, too slowly.
- Before much and many: too much sugar, too many people. Too cannot stand directly before a noun: too sugar is wrong.
- In formal writing, also can replace too at the end of a clause: "She speaks French as well."
Two is the number
- Two cats, two hours, two of them. This spelling only counts things.
- The w is silent, and the word sounds like to and too.
- Related numbers keep the tw: twelve, twenty, twice.
- If a number answers the question how many?, write two.
The quick tests
- Can you replace the word with also? Use too.
- Does the sentence say more than we want? Use too.
- Does the word come before a noun to show how many? Use two.
- Is the word a link towards a place or person, or does it come before a verb? Use to.
How to remember
The trick: To has one o and points the way. Too has an extra o and means also or more than enough. Two begins with tw and counts.
Examples
- I am going to the shop.To points towards a place.
- She wants to learn Spanish.To comes before the base verb learn.
- I want to come too.Too at the end means as well.
- It is too hot to run.Too before an adjective means excessively, and the second to introduces run.
- There are two cats on the roof.Two is the number of cats.
- Give the letter to Maria.To points towards a person.
- He is too young to drive.Too before an adjective, and to before the verb drive.
- We have two hours before the train.Two answers the question how many hours.
Common mistakes
- Wrong: I want to come to. Right: I want to come too.
- The meaning is also, which is spelled too with two o's.
- Wrong: It is to hot. Right: It is too hot.
- The meaning is more than comfortable, so too is needed.
- Wrong: I have to tickets. Right: I have two tickets.
- The word counts the tickets, so the number two is correct.
- Wrong: She went too the market. Right: She went to the market.
- The word points towards a place, so to with one o is correct.
- Wrong: The bag is two heavy to carry. Right: The bag is too heavy to carry.
- The meaning is more than I can carry, so too is needed.
Practice drill
Answer all 15 questions. Each answer is marked at once, and the rule is explained under the question.
I am going ___ the shop.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. to The word points towards a place, so to with one o is correct.
She wants ___ learn Spanish.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. to To comes before the base verb learn as the infinitive marker.
I want to come ___.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. too The meaning is also, which is spelled too with two o's.
It is ___ hot to run.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. too The heat is more than comfortable, so too is correct.
There are ___ cats on the roof.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. two The word counts the cats, so the number two is correct.
Give the letter ___ Maria.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. to The word points towards a person, so to is correct.
He is ___ young to drive.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. too The age is lower than the law allows, so too means excessively.
We have ___ hours before the train.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. two The word answers how many, so the number two is correct.
I like this song ___.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. too At the end of the sentence, too means also.
They walked ___ the station.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. to The word points towards a place, so to is correct.
This coffee is ___ strong for me.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. too The coffee is stronger than the speaker wants, so too is correct.
I have ___ brothers.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D. two The word counts the brothers, so the number two is correct.
Did you remember ___ call her?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. to To introduces the base verb call as the infinitive marker.
She was ___ tired to finish.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. too The tiredness is more than she could manage, so too is correct.
The book belongs ___ Sam.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. to The word points towards a person, so to is correct.
Questions learners ask
When do I use too much and too many?
Too much goes with uncountable nouns: too much sugar, too much time. Too many goes with plural countable nouns: too many people, too many mistakes. Too never stands directly before a noun.
Is to ever written with two o's by mistake?
Yes, and it is one of the most common spelling errors. Read the sentence and ask what the word means. If it means towards or introduces a verb, it needs one o. The extra o only appears in too.
Can too mean very?
Not exactly. Very describes a big degree: "very hot" is hot, and that is fine. Too describes a degree that is a problem: "too hot" means it is hotter than we want. This difference matters in exams.
More confusing words
Its vs it's
Its means belonging to it, with no apostrophe. It's is the short form of it is or it has.
Fun vs funny
Fun is the enjoyment you feel. Funny is what makes you laugh. Funny also means strange.
Desert vs dessert
Desert has one s and means dry land or to leave someone. Dessert has two s’s and is the sweet food after a meal.
Browse all the confusing word pairs or take the free A1 to C2 level test to find your starting point.